Club 80-90 Forums

Anyone got any experience with the crossing from Plymouth to Santander? i.e. the cost.. have priced it and its £800 odd return. Anyone know any sites that do the crossing for something thats a bit easier to swallow?

Cheers guys. By the way, I'm looking at 27 Aug- Sept 11 (ish).

Cheers.

I do know that it is a very expensive crossing, as is Portsmouth Bilbao. I did that once by motorbike and again by bicycle, and it was still the most expensive part of the trip.
It is for convenience rather than cost that it is an alternative to the long way round by road.

Ferry crossing prices are generally high at that time of year where ever you sail from / to. We have booked to go from Poole to Cherbourg at the end of july at a cost of over £400 and that is for the fastcat. its only 2 1/4 hours each way!

Got our tickets through Caravan Club. Single way for the camper and two adults for £230.00 with a cabin avec douche
We're sailing on 23 April Plymouth-Santander as the crossing times suit our needs. Plus I know how to get out of Santander without going round in circles
I believe the Portsmouth-Bilbao is a two night crossing, causing you to end up spending loads of money onboard.. two lots of evening meals, drinks etc.

we did it twice and it was fabulous both times...treat it as part of the holiday..not just a means to getting to spain.

santander is great and the beaches are terrific...we stayed up on the cliffs over looking the town, before going on to Portugal.

As Kev says...

we did it twice and it was fabulous both times...treat it as part of the holiday..not just a means to getting to spain.

santander is great and the beaches are terrific...we stayed up on the cliffs over looking the town, before going on to Portugal.

Santander is beautiful arriving from the sea. The ship is comfortable, well appointed and the 20-22 hours sailing is very relaxed.

A true feeling of my adventure starts here when embarking at Plymouth. And they photograph each vehicle as you drive aboard. If desired, you can buy the pics later.

Hi

If you know anyone in the Brittany ferries owners club, you get a good discount, but they need to have the `spanish route' bit on their card, mine only covers the french crossings though, and can save a fair bit of wedge. 30% on some for my personal use, and 10-20% for my `guests'Limited now)

If you know someone with a home in spain, it may be worth joining, you may save more than the joining cost on one crossing, but you will need a valid spanish address. Check their website for up to date details.

Cheers

Munnyella

Cheers guys,

Maxstu- seems like joining The Caravan Club paid off nicely? Was that a recent trip? In our party theres me, missis, 2 kids (7 & 2) and then my mate his missis and their yr old. Two T25s powered by a TDI & a GTI! happy days!
Maybe we should join if theres big savings to be had, any one got any more info on this?

Also not sure, whether to go to N.Portugal, Med coast Spain, Med Coast France, or Atlantic coast France. Any storys anyone?

Cheers..

Hi woodman,
like I said....

Got our tickets through Caravan Club. Single way for the camper and two adults for £230.00 with a cabin avec douche
We're sailing on 23 April Plymouth-Santander as the crossing times suit our needs. Plus I know how to get out of Santander without going round in circles

.... and just six days to go.

Maybe we should join if theres big savings to be had, any one got any more info on this?

Also not sure, whether to go to N.Portugal, Med coast Spain, Med Coast France, or Atlantic coast France. Any storys anyone?

There's a lot of pros & cons to consider...

As you know the Plymouth-Santander ferry crossing's an arm & leg Our price is for one way only in April.

If still going the Plymouth-Santander route and yer got youngsters then head for the northern Spanish med. It's the cheapest & safest coastline for the kiddies. But could be dangerously scorching hot at that time of year. Especially for youngsters.

Try the coastline just south of the Franco-Spanish border, say north or south of Gerona. Tossa de Mar, Rosas or L'Estartit. Christ, these names crack me up but they're real! All an easy days' drive from Santander.

Big alternative IMHO is to contemplate Brittany or Normandy. Depends on when the Frogs take their hols of course. Cos the campsites will be rammed otherwise! But I think it's earlier than your considered dates. DO CHECK!

Great beaches and friendly family camping sites everywhere. Take the ferry to Le Harve for this one, so you miss out accidentally driving through that sh*te hole called Rouen. You will get lost. You will have blood on your hands. You will never find an exit. Don't ask!

Bon Voyage!

Cheers,

You will have to let us know how the trip went.. Wete going to book at the w/e and bite the £800 bullet. Should be a good trip.

will do so....
Have you sorted a destination yet?

One of the reasons I suggested Spanish med is the beaches are clean and ideal for the kiddies...whilst the atlantic beaches of Portugal, Spain and France can be a little dangerous.

Brillaint scenery I grant you. But those awesome looking waves hitting the beach have travelled a hell of a long way across open seas. And they can put you in a world of pain!

!Hasta Luego!

hi , woodman , check out both the caravan club (gb) , bit posh that lot , and also the camping + caravanning club -- more t25`s in this bunch ! - to see who gives the best discounts and on wot ferries . We`ve used both , for years , sometimes both together , but latterly much prefer the c+c club , more our sorta people and less rich retirees with 65 foot winnibagoes .
We stayed , last year , at a brilliant place called camping sant pol , at sant feliciu des guixols , , north of barcelona ,-- we drove the van there as we live in scotland , so took a northern ferry and stopped in aires as usual , enjoyable trip , and the beach at sant pol is ace ..
jaylo

KTR wrote:we did it twice and it was fabulous both times...treat it as part of the holiday..not just a means to getting to spain.

That's the way to look at it alright, nice relax to get in the holiday mood before the driving really starts..

Woodman
North Portugal is quite barren, apart from the Douro river valley leading to Oporto in the West (Port wine) but an interesting area landscape-wise , and historically (so not for young children) is the Spanish/Portuguese border about half way down (the fortaleza towns of the Peninsula wars, Badahoz etc, Sharpe's Wars!) and then into Estremaduras (Extremaduras) region of Spain - quite wild and beautiful in a deserted sort of way you don't find in Europe much - drive for hours and not see a soul, roads good though. (If you like the red-wine in Nandos, that's where its from)

Picos d'Europ mountains abutting the southern Bay of Biscay make a great drive with varied scenery. Esp. good if you like goats cheese, more varieties to be bought in those villages than you can shake a stick at! Lots of climbers and cyclists in hol. season...

The Brittany Ferry is far better than the P&O, on board prices are cheaper, the service better and you can use euros or sterling and not be charged outragous currency conversion fees. You are not allowed to take your own food/drinks into any of the bars or passenger areas on P&O and the bar prices are not cheap! Be warned that the crossing is usually very choppy and on every occasion that we have travelled it was very rough and can be very unpleasant bearing in mind that you are on board for 24hours or more. Although I have used the Northern Spain route many times quite frankly I wouldn't again. Too expensive and the crossing is usually unpleasant. Dover-Calais and a couple of days to Spain, cheaper and more enjoyable.

Too expensive and the crossing is usually unpleasant.

The Bay of Biscay has that reputation - very choppy!

Brittany - agree - definitely a cut above P&O, you can see P&O are shareholder driven almost before getting to the top of the gang-plank!

Brittany Ferries to Le Havre was very good a few years back...